By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister and Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi said on Monday that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has given the green light for fans to attend all three remaining Pakistan Super League playoff matches.
In a post on X, Naqvi said he had just met the prime minister and secured approval for public attendance at the three fixtures, which will be played this week ahead of the final on Sunday.
The decision comes with a clear condition. “Fans are strongly encouraged to use public transport or minimise fuel consumption while attending the matches, in line with the ongoing national austerity efforts,” Naqvi wrote. He added that the prime minister had also conveyed his best wishes to the four teams still in contention. “Looking forward to some exciting and entertaining cricket ahead,” Naqvi said.
The playoffs begin on Tuesday when Islamabad United face Peshawar Zalmi at Karachi’s National Stadium. On Wednesday, Hyderabad Kingsmen will take on Multan Sultans in Lahore. The loser of the first match will then meet the winner of the second in the eliminator on Friday, also in Lahore. The final is scheduled for May 3 at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
The move follows by two days the government’s earlier decision to allow spectators for the final after a direct request from franchise owners. Until now, the entire PSL 11 tournament had been played behind closed doors, with only 40 matches completed in Karachi and Lahore under strict austerity measures imposed because of the global fuel crisis triggered by the US-Israel war on Iran.
The tournament was originally due to be staged across six cities — Lahore, Karachi, Rawalpindi, Multan, Peshawar and Faisalabad — but was scaled back before the first ball was bowled. The no-crowd policy was part of a wider national drive to conserve resources. Franchise owners had repeatedly pressed the government to reconsider, arguing that the absence of spectators robbed the league of its atmosphere and identity. Some representatives appealed directly to the prime minister and provincial chief ministers.
Online ticket sales for the final went live on Monday, with physical sales due to begin on Tuesday. The PCB has yet to release ticketing details for the three playoff matches. The decision marks a significant late change for PSL 11, allowing fans to return for the business end of the competition while still respecting the government’s fuel-saving guidelines.
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